Imagination Library Book Activity for Blueberries for Sal

BOOK TITLE:Blueberries for SalAUTHOR:Robert McCloskey

SUMMARY OF BOOK: A little girl goes blueberry picking with her mother while a little bear and his mama go searching for blueberries to eat. As Sal picks and eats her berries, she gets separated from her mother. She hears a noise and thinks it’s her mama, so she merrily follows along. Little Bear also gets separated from his mama. Little Bear ends up following Sal’s mother while Sal follows Little Bear’s mama. Both mothers are surprised to see who’s following them. Download this Activity in PDF

BEFORE READING

Ask questions and use what the child already knows to add to the discussion, assisting the child in understanding and enjoying the book.

Looking at the cover, “What do you think this book will be about?”

“Have you ever picked berries? What kind?”

“Where can we go to pick berries?”

“Can you describe what berries taste like?”

DURING READING

“What does Sal’s mother want to do with the berries? What does Sal want to do with them?”

“Why are mama and Little Bear eating berries?”

“How does Sal feel when she gets separated from her mother? How does mother feel?”

“When the mama bear sees Sal, what do you think is going to happen?”

“Can you make the sounds that everyone is hearing?”

AFTER READING

Talk about real and imaginary. “How do we make sure we’re safe when we go outside? What is the real way to behave around bears?”

“What do you like to do with blueberries?” Talk about the picture of the kitchen; have you ever canned fruit? What’s familiar in the picture, what not?

Talk about feeling relief. Is that how all the characters feel at the end of the story?

Compliments of: Rasmuson FoundationCreated by: Students at the University of Alaska Anchorage